Hello from Preston (yorks)

[Gray17]

Morning Guys and Girls as well if any, appologies for not introducing myself first rather then diving straight in on forum.
My names Graham known as Gray17 on forum. Lets just say im an ageing biker of 70s vintage nuf said, had bikes all my life from being 16
I have recently bought the one bike thats eluded me and always wanted a Z900 A4, back in the 70s i had Suzukis GT 250 and 3 750, 2 GTs and a GS, never had a Z900 as at the time my pittance of apprentice pay wouldnt stretch that far.
From recollection a brand new Suzuki GT750 in 1975 cost £998.00, a Kawasaki Z1 cost £1300 or there abouts, a lot different these days.
Anyway an opportunity presented itself for a US import Z900 A4 that was supposed to have been part restored, was running, but needed registering with DVLA and finishing off.
Sounded ideal so i bought it.
Upon getting it home i decided whilst a lot of new parts had been fitted the standard of restoration so far wasnt to my standard and left a lot to be desired, so have set about stripping the bike and starting afresh.
Work done so far.
Frame and all black metal parts, blasted and sent to powder coaters for coat of semi gloss paint. All this completed
Engine full strip down, cases sent for vapour blasting, on with rebuilding that now.
Lots more to do so will keep you all informed and sure will be seeking help with the rebuild.
So thats me, Hello to you all.

[Philippe]

Hello Gray17

welcome to the club !
It's great that you're restoring the Z900A4 but show us some pictures of your pride and beauty please.
Good luck with the restoration.
Greetings from Belgium
Philippe

[chrisNI]

but as Philippe says…

[Gray17]

Sorry guys, here is photo of bike as was when i bought it, bike currently in bits at mo undergoing full restoration by me.
Yes i know loads to do to get it back to original!

[marmck]

Hi & welcome to the club good luck with the resto

[Bill P]

Welcome aboard , nice bike enjoy your resto

[Peteypops23]

Looks tidy Graham, enjoy!
Pete

[r3sc]

Welcome. Looking forward to see your progress!

[Ultim8pc]

Welcome to the club. I'm over the other side of the border near Skipton. A good friend and fellow Zed owner is also over Blackburn way.
I've had quite a few Z900s and finishing off a re-restoration of a Z900 for my best mate.
Be good to see how you get on with yours. Feel free to give me a shout if you get stuck or need help with yours.

[Ultim8pc]

just realised you mean Preston over Hull way...
I used to live in Withernsea.

[Gray17]

Hi yes thats right small village between Hull and Beverley, so if anyone lives nearby give us a shout!
I lived in With for a while too on the Promenade, went to With school for 6 months or so, we may have bumped into each other, depending on age, small world!
The Z900 photo looks great, hope mine turns out half as good, bit lots to do and parts to change back to original. The indicators on mine are new but not correct type, they have thecorrect chrome body but wrong Hodna type covers, im hoping i can just replace the amber lenses rather then full lot. The list just goes on and ooooon.

[Ultim8pc]

Hi yes thats right small village between Hull and Beverley, so if anyone lives nearby give us a shout!
I lived in With for a while too on the Promenade, went to With school for 6 months or so, we may have bumped into each other, depending on age, small world!
The Z900 photo looks great, hope mine turns out half as good, bit lots to do and parts to change back to original. The indicators on mine are new but not correct type, they have thecorrect chrome body but wrong Hodna type covers, im hoping i can just replace the amber lenses rather then full lot. The list just goes on and ooooon.

I'm out that way pretty regularly as my sistyer lives in Beverly and my mother in With. Maybe I can call one time when I'm on my way back.

You can purchase the OEM Stanley lenses. The Z900 I'm finishing is all repro stuff, but has OEM lenses.

[Gray17]

Hi yes you'd be very welcome, plenty of Tea or Coffee on tap or even a beer if weathers nice! As I'm retired and busy with resto im in most of the time so please do.
Zpower do a set of 4 repro kawasaki lenses the chrome bases on mine look very similar to the Kawasaki ones so hoping you can just replace the lens with kawasaki type, course not sure if diameter the same or screw holes, also depth is much less as Kawasaki ones are flatter, so may have to move bulb holder position slightly, nothings
ever simple is it? Could just buy 4 new repro ones but thats a shame apart from cost the ones on bike are new, so a waste.

[deka]

WELCOME very friendly bunch here